*Air Transport Association Chief James May in a letter this month to air cargo shippers warns that the congressionally-mandated deadline for screening 100% of cargo aboard passenger planes is fast approaching and that more shippers need to become involved with the Certified Cargo Screening Program to ensure compliance. “If too many participants wait until next year, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will unlikely be able to process all of the requests in a limited time frame,” May says. “The risks are particularly high for businesses that ship special commodities, many of which were previously allowed to be transported without being subjected to full physical screening processes. Sealed shipments of pharmaceuticals, high-tech commodities, perishables and any commodity transported on shrink-wrapped or banded skids or pallets on wide- body aircraft will be affected by the new TSA requirements.”
*STS International, Inc., received a $23.3 million contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center to provide research and development in the areas of homeland security. The West Virginia-based, veteran-owned firm has expertise in biometrics, body armor, communications, maritime security, medical and other training, radars, video cameras and streaming video, and more.
*American Airlines has begun rolling out the Transportation Security Administration’s Secure Flight program to customers who purchase tickets on or after Sept. 15. Under the program TSA will conduct the watch list matching process for airline passengers once they make a flight reservation.